Maintaining True Holiness

It is our responsibility, not only to attain true holiness, but to retain and maintain it. What then is the wisdom of maintaining true holiness? The following tips are relevant:


(1) Maintaining a right focus. The opposite of focus is distraction. Distraction itself comes in two ways: absence of focus, or loss of focus. The implication is that distraction cannot be identified unless we know what the focus should be. A man’s focus can be identified by considering his dominant thoughts, the things he likes to talk about and his pursuits. When these things do not conform to popular expectations, he is said to be unfocused. When they do conform to popular expectations, he is said to be focused; but whenever he deviates from those ‘ideals’, he is said to be distracted. The implication is that there is no uniform standard for measuring focus; it varies from place to place. However, from the perspective of God, there are two kinds of focus: Heaven-based (or divine) focus and earth-based focus.
 In Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” There is a link between the kind of treasure a man seeks and the quality of his focus, for “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Like Jesus, Paul encourages us to focus on heavenly things: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things that are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col.3:1-2). This is all the more important when we remember that the Devil uses our desires and lusts as a springboard for his temptations (see Jam.1:14, Mat.4:2-3, 2 Pet.1:4, 1 Jn.2:15-17). Watch out for our write-up on Renewing the Mind).


 The need for divine focus is well illustrated by Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. He uses the imagery of an athlete, who has the finish line in view and runs with purpose in every step, refusing to be distracted. He also uses the imagery of a boxer who wants to hit target every time. He concludes by identifying the one thing that can hinder us from finishing the race: the cravings of the body, which are given prominence within the context of an earth-based focus. But not so with Paul: “…I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (v.27).
 When we have chosen the right focus, we must avoid influences that go with the wrong of focus. Jesus says “The light of the body is the eye: If therefore thine eye be single, thine whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness…” (Mat.6:22-23). The opposite of singleness of focus is evil; and this leaves us no option but to maintain a singleness of focus. While this Scripture speaks, in general terms, about our focus in life, it also speaks, in specific terms, about the things we focus our eyes on. Remember, evil communications corrupt good manners (1 Cor.15:33). While it is true that defilement comes from within a man, we must remember that pollution comes from without (Mat.15:11, 17-19, Ac.15:20, 2 Pet.2:20). He that desires to be holy, and does not discipline himself in relation to what he reads, watches or listens to, deceives himself.
 (2) Maintaining right relationships and fellowshipping with the right kind of people. Amos 3:3 teaches us that two individuals cannot walk together unless they are in agreement. As the saying goes, birds of the same plumage flock together. If you have made a choice in favour of Heaven-based focus, then move with men who have similar aspirations: “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed” (Pro.13:20). We need men around us who will continually sharpen us, not those who have no respect for the ideals we subscribe to: “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend” (Pro.27:17). We need to locate a company of God-fearing men and women and identify with them: “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His Name” (Mal.3:16).
Peter and John belonged to such a company: “And being let go, they returned
to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had
said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice with ONE
ACCORD…” (Ac.4:23-24. Emphasis ours).
 (3) Knowing when to flee. Joseph had to flee from the object or channel of temptation (Potiphar’s wife) and the place of temptation (the room and, in fact, the house). In the same way, Paul warns: “Flee fornication…” When a man flees, it is not advisable to return to the privacy of his house, where he will yet contend with his own thoughts. It would be better to go to men of his own company, God-fearing men who will strengthen him in his hour of need. James counsels thus, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed…” (Jam.5:16). The implication is that some of the healing that we need, in relation to our faults, will never manifest until we confess our faults to some other person(s). (Watch out for our focus on Repentance from Dead Works, which deals with, among other things, practical wisdom on repentance).
Again, 1 Thessalonians 5:22 tells us to flee the appearance (or environment) of
sin. This has a lot to do with foresight and anticipation, which enable us to bail
out, so to say, before the ship begins to sink.
 (4) Asking ourselves some relevant questions. The following questions will guide us in decision making: What does the Word of God say on this matter? What would Jesus do? What is the Spirit saying to me? What would I want others to do to me? What would I have done if I were in the shoes of the other person(s)? Will Jesus be proud of what I am doing? Is Jesus being glorified by My actions?